24, 24, 24 hours to go...

I wanna be sedated or constipated. Morocco did not agree with my stomach. OMG. And I really have 48 or so hours to go. Before my long flight where I may not have immediate bathroom access. Gross, I know, but a serious concern.

Since I last blogged, Matt and I have been through Italy (Rome and Venice); Spain (Bilbao and Barcelona); Morocco (Fes) and back to Barcelona.

The Colesseum, Pantheon and Vatican were amazing to see in person after years of viewing them in art history texts. Michelle Obama was at the Pantheon the first time we tried to go. She did look lovely in her yellow dress - and the foreign crowd loved her. The Vatican was beautiful but I was offended to see all of the people snapping photos - come on people, it is a holy site. Turns out 12 years of Catholic school left a mark on me. Then we had to loop through the Vatican museums three times to see the Sistine Chapel! I became increasingly frustrated with each loop. I am pretty sure that the people at the Vatican should ask themselves, "what would Jesus do?" and realize that the answer is not treat people like cattle. The Sistine Chapel was worth it though. Absolutely amazing.

Venice was super touristy, and incredibly frustrating. Hard to navigate. And so hot! We did eat well though.

The Guggenheim in Bilbao was awesome. Bilbao itself was one of the cleanest cities I have ever visited. They have twice-daily street sweepers and then individual people out with brooms and dustpans. It was maniacal! And the pinxtos (Basque tapas) were delicious!

We spent one night in a hostel in Barcelona, which reminded us why we were paying more to stay in hotels. Gotta love the Euro techno and stinky hippies.

Then we were off to Morocco - our first foray into Africa. Not what we thought it would be. There were no local artisanal crafts - everything was fake Louis Vuitton. It reminded us of a Middle East Mexico, but without any consideration of tourists or Americans or women - too bad I was all of the above. We felt safe in that no one could care less about us as Americans. There were no shops selling tourist items, there were no restaurants (we assume everyone eats at home and then the men venture out). It was weird to be the most scantily clad person there. We had a hard time finding restaurants, or really any place that catered to women. Outside all of the cafes sat men...and only men, who looked at me and Matt with utter disdain. How dare I be out in public and how dare Matt not know to keep me covered and at home.

Yesterday we arrived back in Barcelona and had a delicious dinner. Today we set out for the Gaudi houses but, alas, my stomach was not up for the adventure. We still have tomorrow before we fly back to Milan to come home so I hope we can be touristy then.

movie-quality hello

My Fourth of July consisted of a reindeer hot dog, a bit of walking, a chair exhibition and a nap. Not bad at all.

Matt met me in Milan on Monday with roses and a bottle of prosecco. Not bad after I traveled from 7.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. I walked, took a bus, plane, train, bus, plane, bus and walked. I was tired and kept asking myself if I was there yet.

Yesterday was a travel day and we flew to Naples. Today we visited Pompeii. Pretty amazing in person, especially after seeing the site in art history textbooks the past few years.

Did I forget to mention that last Friday was my last day of college? I am done with my second bachelor-s degree.

We are eating amazing pasta, pizza and gelato...and the wine is cheaper than water. Though we have been enjoying the H2O "with gas" and also drinking a lot of regular tap water. We have yet to contract the Italian version of Montezuma-s Revenge so I think we should be fine.

Before dinner we visited a fountain designed by Bernini and found the street with the "presepi" or nativity scenes. I cannot wait to set up the new one at Christmas.

Tomorrow we are hitting up the island of Capri before heading to Rome.

Matt, wine, gelato, art...life is good.
-A

P.S. Matt signed a lease. We get back on Tuesday/Wednesday and moving on Friday. Life is nothing but bold steps.

Bergen fun

Several guys in my class made this video one night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=712_3EmYhCs

off to the islands

Tonight we are headed out to one of the islands for a bbq (Rori and Ken (my instructors) are staying with the family Rori nannied for 10 years ago and they invited us out to their summer cottage). We are taking a ferry, which is supposed to provide us with great views. Also, a few days ago we went swimming, and by that I mean we jumped into the salty, salty water. The water and the mountains are the things here...they remind me of home, but different.

Two and a half more days left to this degree! Woo hoo!

photos!

All of my Copenhagen photos are now posted in the album. The start of my Bergen photos have also been posted.

$20 for fish and chips?

We are in Bergen, Norway now. Lovely little port city, and the second largest in the country, I think, with around 200,000 people. Norway is, however, ridiculously expensive. Please send money. I´m serious. I paid $20 for fish and chips and a bottle of water yesterday at the fish market soon after we got to our hostel. But I needed it after being molested on the plane.

As we sat in the modern and carefully designed Copenhagen airport we watched and listened to a very drunk Swedish man. He was singing, yelling and drinking some more. Guess who had the privilege of sitting next to him? I had to repeatedly tell him not to touch me or breathe on me...and by that I mean grope me or try to kiss me. Between the singing, yelling and the not having had a shower in days this drunk sailor was awful. Then things went from bad to worse when he explained to the woman on the aisle (also a Swede) that he had been in prison and his girlfriend had killed herself (I can understand why). Though I think she could have done the world a favor and just killed him...because I sure wanted to. Or at least the SAS flight attendants who served him two more gins (minus the tonics...he handed one back to the gal and stuffed the other in the seatback pocket) and a beer. I am actually in the process of writing to SAS. I think they owe me a flight. The entire plane could hear him and probably smell him -- and I had to sit next to him.

What else is going on? My entire class is sharing a room in Bergen. Not nearly as nice as the hostel in Copenhagen, but not nearly as bad as some other hostels I´ve been in, i.e. Athens. The really bad thing about this hostel? The shower "rooms." Just rooms with 5 or 6 water-saving shower heads. And I can live with the mass nudity, it´s the eco-showers that bother me -- the water is not hot and the water shuts off after less than a minute. These Scandinavians and their environmental protection!

But don´t think I´m not having a good time. The town is beautiful and it´s good to be meeting innovative designers and thinkers.

photos

I am using a pc that labels everything in Danish. Apparently the labs in Bergen will have macs and then I can upload more photos.

What's going on here: Went to an amazing structure designed by BIG yesterday, saw the light exhibition at the Danish Design Center and visited Bosch & Fjord. I am excited to see what Bergen is like and how its design either differs or is similar to what we have been seeing in Copenhagen.

I was just checking the weather and it looks like it will be in the mid-70s there, so at least that will be nice. Especially before heading to the mid- to upper-80s in Italy and Spain. And it looks like it will be near 100 degrees F in Morocco. I am going to come back so tan!

On a more local front, it looks like Matt may have found a place for us to move to in August. Exciting!! New house, new job (once I find one), and my diploma should come in the mail. Looking forward to summer concerts, jazz in the park, Film on the Rocks and backyard bbqs. Maybe a housewarming/graduation party.

Copenhagen Inspiration

So inspired and excited the past two days. I mentioned the meeting with Copenhagen X, well, the more I think about what they are doing I am excited. Their staff of 4-5 is a journalist, a cultural communicator (like an art historian), one or two architects and an IT person. The first two positions are my background. I feel like something like Copenhagen X could really take shape in Denver with the right people. Maybe as a Hispanic female I could get grants or some funding...They bridge the gap between the designers and the public, making the work make sense and putting it into context. They are open to experimentation and new methods -- anything to make design connect with people outside the design realm, because, really, design is everywhere. It shapes our lives.

Today we met with Onesto Mong. Wow. Those guys are amazing. So friendly and welcoming. And creative...OMG! They are designers and planners and event organizers with a social conscience. Their presentation was great, they offered us snacks, stickers, and cool eco-bags they designed. Then, they took us on a raft cruise of central Copenhagen and dropped us off at our hostel.

I missed the free day at the Danish Design Center but I hope to go tomorrow. They are having an exhibition on light.

Tonight we are headed back to crazy Christiana for a music festival. I want to go but I don't want to stay out forever or drink too much expensive Carlsberg -- yuck to pilsner! Plus, I'm getting too old to rage into the morning light.

Which leads me to this: traveling with a group is hard! Especially since it is made up mostly of real college-age people. Twenty-one-year olds like their booze and sleeping in. Which, don't get me wrong, I do too, but I came here for design! And since I've been here before I don't get as lost, which means I often find myself with a pack. I am savoring these internet moments for myself!

Anyway, my laundry is almost done so I should go...

Love,
-A

more CPH

Last night we went to the beaches for the midsummer festival. They light big bonfires and burn "witches" to rid themselves of bad spirits. Netanya and Martha accidently bought non-alcoholic wine for us to drink.

We've been to the Danish Architecture Center again to meet with the Copenhagen X editor. I am inspired to found a Denver X...or something like Copenhagen X in Denver...more to come later, gotta find a new real job first! We also visited BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) and some of their buildings, and JDS Architects (Julien De Schmidt). Amazing!!

Yesterday a few of us went to the harbor pool designed by PLOT (Bjarke Ingels' and Julien De Schmidt's previous firm together). There is a 14-meter or so platform to jump into the harbor. So cold! It hits you so hard you feel amazingly, painfully alive. Lots of my classmates were a bit hesitant at first...but I have always been known to jump right into cold, dark water -- especially when the depth is unknown, lol. Sorry Mom.

Talked to Matt via gchat just now. Yay!

ttyl-
A

Copenhagen Copenhagen Copenhagen

Loving Denmark even more than the last time I was here! We wandered around yesterday looking for the elusive free city bikes. I love the bike lanes and the masses using the bike lanes. Plus so many cool frames and accessories.

The Danish Architecture Center was lovely and the book store was amazing. I showed restraint because I do not want to carry books through four more countries. The box of Creative Gumbo postcards is heavy enough.

Last night Netanya, Sergio and I ate at a restaurant called, I kid you not, "Spicylicious." It was so delicious. We ate curry and pad thai and coconut pancakes. The water had lime slices, mint and hibiscus blossoms in it. Then we had a Tuborg Guld at a bar where a prostitute introduced herself to us. Classy.

The sun didn't set (if you can really call it set) until around 10:15 p.m. last night and was up around 4:00 a.m. this morning. It was a bit unsettling in that it really effects your sense of time. However, because it's harder to sleep everyone is up doing things and some businesses remain open. I could get used to that. I could get so much done!

Today we are headed to Christiana, an experimental community that exists within Denmark but considers itself outside the European Union.

Made it to Copenhagen

I forgot how exhausting travel can be...my flight from Denver left late, I barely made it through security and to my gate in London as last call was being announced, and in Copenhagen our baggage was delayed an hour and a half. Weird since it was on the plane with us...

I sat next to a nice guy from Sudan (who now lives in Denver) from Denver to London, however, he talked and talked and my sleeping pills proved uneffective, as did the complementary glass of red wine (god I love British Airways!). Therefore, I am tired and this post isn't even entertaining me. (I promise more excitment next time!)

Copenhagen and its residents are just as beautiful as I remember...

Goodnight.
-A

Two Days Until I Fly Away

I leave for Copenhagen on Friday evening and arrive in Denmark on Saturday. Maybe, just maybe, I will sleep on the plane and arrive without jet lag...here's to hoping.

So why am I embarking on this trip? The answer is, or course, "why not?". I am going back to Copenhagen and on to Bergen as part of a course called "Digital Scandinavia" (Facebook, WordPress). This two-week study abroad is the extension of the three-week Maymester course, which, together, act as my final courses in my art history degree. (Yay to being done with my thesis and another bachelor's degree!)

"DIGITAL SCANDINAVIA is a collaborative cross-disciplinary art and design initiative asking students to engage in digital process-based research that explores multi-scalar design and questions the very state of contemporary art practice. We will be looking at the macro down to micro scale variables that influence innovative creative production in both the United States and Scandinavia. In 2009, Denver, Copenhagen and Bergen will be our playgrounds. The collective work of team projects (COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT) will be exhibited in the fall of 2009 at RedLine/Denver in addition to publication in Modern in Denver. CPR teams began working together in May."

My team is called "Creative Gumbo." "Creative Gumbo is motivated by Richard Florida’s ideas about the Creative Economy and its limitless network, which broaden the notion of artist to include innovators within a variety of disciplines who have not historically been considered creative. Creative Gumbo is responding to the proliferation of social networking as a way to document the Creative Economy through an analog process. We are tracking the interconnection of people, projects, firms, institutions and concepts in the U.S. and Scandinavia that are shaping the areas of Environment, Community, Action, Entertainment, Innovation and Education. Our method is a collaborative, participatory-based experiment using handmade postcards, which will be distributed in a snail-mail system."



I am also traveling to Italy, Spain and Morocco. Matt is meeting me in Milan, Italy, and from there we will visit Naples, Rome and Venice. Then we are headed to Spain to see Barcelona and Bilbao. And in between the Spanish cities we are stopping in Fes, Morocco.

So why these destinations? Well, last time Pam and I only briefly stopped in Italy, Spain sounded nice, and neither Matt nor I have been to Morocco (and why not stop in Africa when we are so close?).

Over the course of a month I will be recording my travels here, on the Creative Gumbo blog and on my Facebook page.

I have also linked my Picasa albums to this page, and I can insert video directly into this blog and on Facebook. Think of my trip as your trip...especially if you are stuck at home this summer.

vi ses, hade, arriverderci, adios, khodafes,
-A